2016 NBA draft prep: Kane's top prospects 1.0

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Monitoring the top NBA draft prospects has become a yearly ritual for 76ers fans. With general manager Sam Hinkie well on his way toward securing another top pick, let's examine the best players this year's class has to offer. Keep in mind the Sixers could end up with more than one of these prospects since they own the Lakers' Top 3 protected pick, making it conceivable that the Sixers end up with two of the first five picks.

This list details only the prospects currently playing college basketball. There will be a handful of international players that will make their way into the lottery.

1. Ben Simmons, forward, LSU (6-10/225)
The type of prospect that would justify the Sixers' three-year tanking plan, Simmons is a special talent, the kind of player that enters the NBA only so often. Barring injury or any other unforeseen circumstances he will be the first pick in the 2016 draft.

Simmons had 43 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, five steals and three blocks in LSU's 119-108 win over North Florida on Wednesday. In seven games this season, he is averaging 19.9 points and 14.9 rebounds to go along with 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

Simmons is a 6-foot-10 point forward who excels in grabbing rebounds and taking the ball up the floor himself. He can truly do it all — score, pass, handle the ball, rebound, defend. His intangibles are terrific, too — he is by all accounts a hard worker who plays within the team system.

Simmons will need to develop an outside shot. He's attempted only two three-point field goals all season and made one.

He's familiar with Sixers coach Brett Brown from his time growing up in Australia when Brown served as the Australian national coach. Brown would be beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to coach Simmons in the NBA.

2. Skal Labissiere, forward, Kentucky (6-11/225)
A similar prospect to Simmons but not quite as dynamic. Labissiere is a rangy, athletic forward who should thrive in the NBA style of play. Like most prospects at Kentucky, he won't put up monster numbers because of the caliber of players he shares the floor with.

Through the first seven games of the season, Labissiere is averaging 12.9 points and shooting better than 60 percent from the field in just 23 minutes per game. His 4.9 rebounding average qualifies as a red flag at this point, but we'll get a better handle of what he's capable of once Kentucky gets into the meat of its SEC schedule.

Circle Jan. 5 and March 5 on your calendars: dates when Labissiere and Kentucky go head-to-head with Simmons and LSU.

3. Jamal Murray, guard, Kentucky (6-5/210)
The best perimeter player in the 2016 draft class, Murray is an explosive athlete with good size who can play either guard position. He's Kentucky's best player, currently averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

He's struggled with turnovers (3.1 per game) and his shooting percentages are lacking (42 percent field goals, 32 percent threes). But Murray's ability far supersedes any questionable statistics this early in the season.

Murray is the type of dynamic, playmaking guard NBA teams covet.

4. Kris Dunn, guard, Providence (6-4/220)
A prototypical NBA point guard who will step into someone's starting lineup from Day 1 and contribute. Last season's Big East Co-Player of the Year is a threat to put up a triple-double every time he steps on the floor, as evidenced by Wednesday's 16-point, 14-assist, 10-rebound performance in Providence's win over Hartford.

Dunn is averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals this season. He's shooting better than 47 percent from the field but just 25 percent from three-point range. However he was a 35 percent three-point shooter last year, so the ability to connect from long range is there.

Dunn would have been a first-round pick last year after his sophomore season. If he continues to play the way he's playing as a junior, he could be a Top 5 pick.

5. Brandon Ingram, guard, Duke (6-9/190)
Ingram is another dynamic athlete poised to become the latest Duke prospect taken high in the NBA draft. He isn't lacking in talent, but he needs to find more consistency in his performances. There is plenty of time left in his freshman season for that.

Wednesday's 24-point effort on 10 of 15 shooting against Indiana is a good indication that Ingram is well on his way to harnessing all of that talent.

His 56.3 percent free throw shooting is troubling, but 32 attempts is nowhere near a big enough sample size to become concerned.

Once Ingram fills out his wiry frame, he could easily become an All-Star caliber player in the NBA.

6. Jaylen Brown, forward, California (6-7/225)
The most highly rated prospect to come out of the University of California in quite a while, Brown is a versatile, athletic forward averaging 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in Cal's first seven games of the season.

Brown is on track to become a Top 10 pick in next June's draft despite his lack of efficiency early in the season. He's shooting just 44 percent from the field (well below average for a post player) and has made just 5 of his 23 three-point attempts.

7. Henry Ellenson, forward, Marquette (6-10/245)
Ellenson will battle with Villanova's Jalen Brunson for Big East Rookie of the Year honors. Ellenson has tremendous ball skills for a big man — he's a gifted ballhandler and passer for someone his size. Ellenson also attacks the glass on a regular basis, averaging 9.6 rebounds to go along with his 15.3 points.

Ellenson is the type of player who can elevate the Marquette program under head coach Steve Wojciechowski. But sadly for fans of the Golden Eagles, it would be a surprise if he was on campus for more than one year.

8. Cheick Diallo, forward, Kansas (6-9/220)
Sidelined for Kansas' first five games this season while the NCAA looked into questions concerning his eligibility, Diallo made his much-anticipated debut Tuesday against Loyola (Md.) and did not disappoint. He scored 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots in 16 minutes.

Diallo's skills are tailor-made to become a dominant NBA big man. His stock should only rise as he becomes more prominent in the Kansas offense throughout the season.

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